Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  KangYoon hurriedly drove a car to SBB. He was guided by an assistant director to a meeting room.

  ‘Did some other entertainment company decide to interfere?’


  Drinking the tea that the assistant director gave him, KangYoon fell into contemplation.

  ‘Heartache’ was currently getting good reviews. It ranked first as soon as it aired, so the influence couldn’t be more apparent. However, he was notified that it would no longer be aired, so he was quite flustered.

  ‘Fuu… At least they have manners. Usually, they can switch it without telling me.’


  KangYoon made a bitter smile. Producer Kim DeokJoong could be considered to be more polite than the others of his profession.

  Editing was the authority of the producer. Meaning, deciding on which soundtrack to use in certain scenes was up to them as well. KangYoon would be hard-pressed to do anything even if they did switch it out without telling him.

  Just as he was thinking about a lot of things, producer Kim DeokJoong opened the door to the meeting room and entered.

  “You’re here.”


  KangYoon stood up and greeted the producer. The producer could not hide his awkward expression and spoke in a depressed tone.

  “…I must apologize. I’m so sorry to say that I can’t use such a good song any further.”


  “Is there a reason for it?”


  At KangYoon’s question, producer Kim DeokJoong carefully waved the assistant director out. The assistant director politely left and only then did he start speaking in a careful manner.

  “Do you know about the actress Shieun?”


  “Shieun… You mean the female lead for this drama?”


  “Yes. Phew….”


  Producer Kim DeokJoong heaved a deep sigh. His expression was colored with thick annoyance and deep rage. KangYoon felt something from his sigh and asked carefully.

  “So something is happening.”


  “…Yes. Originally, Shieun wanted to do an OST as well. After all, she was a general entertainer that did both acting and singing. She requested me to use the OST that she had recorded herself in the drama. However, I decided that it wasn’t suitable, and declined her. It wasn’t bad, but neither was it good… It was just a so-so soundtrack. Then, I came across ‘Heartache’ that you brought me, president, and that was a very good one.”


  “Then what is your reason for the change?”


  “*ehem*….”


  Producer Kim DeokJoong spoke heavily.

  “…It was the president’s orders.”


  He closed his eyes shut and his lips trembled. His face was red as though someone found out about his embarrassing side. He looked like he wanted to say something more.

  Before KangYoon even asked, producer Kim DeokJoong asked KangYoon for understanding.

  “…I’m sorry. I don’t think I can speak anymore about this. What I can tell you is that I don’t think I will be able to air ‘Heartache’ anymore due to the orders of the station’s president. I really do like the song though….”


  “….”


  KangYoon summed up what he said in his mind.

  SBB’s president, actress Shieun. He felt like he would find something out if he connected these two seemingly unrelated people together.

  ‘Someone who can overturn the decision of a picky producer like Kim DeokJoong… Well, TV stations are very old-fashioned so it’s hard to go against the orders of their superiors. Anyway, where was Shieun’s company again? Cymena?’


  In a case like this one, he could only think that her company played a hand here. Cymena was a powerful company that possessed several successful actors and actresses and could be considered one of the top 3 in that industry.

  They should have plenty of influence on the SBB’s president.

  ‘There’s nothing more I can do here.’


  Staying here any further would be a waste of time. KangYoon first decided to return.

  “…Okay. But still, thank you for calling me at first notice.”


  “I can only say sorry. It’s not supposed to end like this…”


  Leaving behind the disappointed producer Kim DeokJoong, KangYoon returned to his company.

  When he went up to the office, Lee HyunJi was waiting for him.

  “How did it go?”


  KangYoon explained the circumstances. He also added his bit about the connection between the SBB’s president and Cymena’s influence which made Lee HyunJi sigh.

  “…That’s plenty doable. Well, the viewing rates for ‘His Hospital’ is going above 20% so it would be strange if no one took an interest.”


  While Lee HyunJi sighed, KangYoon spoke about what their next course of action should be.

  “Due to this incident, White Moonlight’s promotion to the public was cut short. I wanted it to last 3 more weeks at the least….”


  “Is there a way we can make maximum effect out of this one alone? Or why don’t we hurry with the album and release it early?”


  KangYoon thought about it. Lee HyunAh’s OST was currently ranked first in various music charts for days now. However, if it no longer aired in the drama, people would soon lose interest. The current first place was more like a castle built on top of sand.

  ‘May has too many competitors.’


  He thought about releasing the album early, but he still shook his head.

  Many groups, including boy idols, girl idols, and bands centered their activities around May since there were many festivals in the month. KangYoon didn’t want to step into the red ocean.

  Lee HyunJi also contemplated it, but this deadlock wasn’t so easily solved. To delay the album for later, it was likely that the effect from the OST would fall short, and to release the album now, the market was already full.

  “It’s giving me headaches. If it’s going to be like this, I’d rather have them keep doing what they’re doing now.”


  Lee HyunJi shook her head. A dilemma like this was something she detested.

  ‘Wait, what?’


  At that moment, Lee HyunJi’s words reminded KangYoon of something. He clapped his hands in enlightenment.

  “That’s it.”


  “What?”


  “What you just said.”


  Lee HyunJi tilted her head. She momentarily forgot about what she had just said.

  However, KangYoon abruptly stood up from his seat as though everything was solved.

  “I’ll go out with HyunAh in a minute.”


  “What? Where are you going at a time like this?”


  “I think I’ll stay out for around two days. Please take care of the Eddios girls.”


  When KangYoon hurriedly left, Lee HyunJi sighed in bewilderment.

  “…Well, he’ll surprise me with his results for sure.”


  However, her expression soon turned normal. She had faith in KangYoon in her heart.

  ***

  “It’s rather exciting to come out after such a long time.”


  Lee HyunAh, who had a guitar bag on her back, couldn’t help but get excited. Kim JinDae, who was next to him, looked around with a flushed face as well.

  “Ooh….”


  “…Oppa, you’re drooling.”


  To Kim JinDae, whose eyes were taken away by the ladies with thin waistlines in Hongdae, Lee HyunAh scolded with a short sigh.

  Meanwhile, KangYoon started installing a mixer and a speaker.

  “Let’s do this quickly.”


  “Yes!”


  Kim JinDae hooked the mic to the djembe quite proficiently. Jung ChanGyu also attached a wireless mic to the guitar, and Lee HyunAh also adjusted her mic stand.

  In a crowded plaza near Hongdae station, the three people got ready to perform. Some of the passersby recognized the two and asked for an autograph.

  After the sound test, KangYoon signaled for the two to start.

  “Hello? I’m Lee HyunAh from White Moonlight.”


  Her attractive voice halted the steps of the passersby. With some of her fans, who had gathered around before, people started gathering one by one. Her Lunas-trained hosting performance also played a role.

  Lee HyunAh didn’t drag things out for long and introduced the main song she would sing today.

  “Today, I’ll sing… well, it’s somewhat embarrassing for me to introduce it myself. It’s titled ‘Heartache’ by White Moonlight, ourselves. Please listen.”


  To the people who didn’t know White Moonlight, this was an eye-opener for them.

  “I have something to say –”


  Even the people who didn’t know the title of the song were surprised after listening to the first verse. Most people had heard of this song at least once.

  “I know this song.”


  “This was theirs?”


  People started murmuring. Moreover, the voice was similar, no, the same. The song was good as well, and now they were listening to it on the street like this… People were happy due to the sudden stroke of fortune so they stood where they were and listened.

  “I called you – you didn’t answer – I reached out to you – yet my hands — stayed empty .”


  The slow guitar and Lee HyunAh’s guitar made a beautiful harmony. Lee HyunAh’s uniquely deep voice resonated within the people’s hearts.

  KangYoon knew that the guitar sound and the singing went well and increased the output of the two. When he did, the white light became even stronger and poked into the people’s hearts.

  “Ooh.”


  “Wow.”


  The first verse ended. This was where Lee HyunAh’s voice would rise higher and then rest a little. The people immersed deeply into the music, also approached the stage unknowingly.

  “Amidst my tears — my love — blossoms again — with you —-”


  Lee HyunAh’s eyes closed and they teared up. Even she herself was deeply absorbed by the song. People also seemed to be deeply immersed in the song as they all had sorrowful expressions.

  The djembe quietly accompanied the song, while the guitar played the sorrowful melody.

  The instruments and the voice created a beautiful white light together.

  ‘A little more…’


  KangYoon increased the output a little for the influence to reach even further. When he did, even the people at the back, who could barely hear any sound at all, seemed satisfied and immersed themselves into the song.

  “Wordlessly, my heart speaks – I — love you —”


  The guitar still flowed on and continued after her voice. The song ended like that.

  “Waaaa—!”


  “That was awesome!”


  “Again!”


  The people started applauding.

  Jung ChanGyu and Kim JinDae had a look at each other and gave each other a thumbs up. Lee HyunAh stood up from her seat and expressed her thanks to the audience. The claps became even louder.

  And then…


  “One more song?”


  “Waaaa–!”


  The people reveled in the uncommon busking show being put on.

  ***-

  Who sang this? I can sing better with my foot-

  A new OST? That sounds even more absurd than Lee ChangYeon (author’s name) releasing more chapters-

  Give me back the original!-

  Did the PD change? I think he’s not right in the head-

  The drama’s so good, but the OST is just not immersive. The song just breaks the mood.

  After the 9th and 10th episodes of ‘His Hospital’ aired, the BBS was filled with complaints. Their point was simple – Where was the good OST gone and why they had to replace it with a crappy soundtrack that breaks the mood.

  More than that…


  – Do you think we’d listen if you ignored the nameless nobodies and put in famous celebs?

  – You wanna be a singer just because your face looks a little pretty?

  – Shieun? Didn’t she get plastic surgery? I mean, she looks like someone I know in Gangnam.

  – I thought I was getting a masterpiece drama with good actors and a good song, but some crazy bitch just had to ruin it.

  The new OST that pushed ‘Heartache’ away, titled ‘His love’, was getting all the insults it could possibly get. Some people were even saying that they would drop the drama altogether.

  If there were just a couple hundred of these comments, they could just ignore it, but the numbers didn’t end there. Almost all the comments were like that so the web manager had a hard time managing all those comments, and the journalists happily bit into the topic like hyenas.

  Monday, the recording day of the 11th episode. Producer Kim DeokJoong couldn’t go to the shoot and was called to the president’s office instead.

  “Sorry for calling you when you must be so busy.”


  “Not at all. My juniors can take over my part temporarily.”


  Producer Kim DeokJoong actually didn’t think that at all and he had a smile on his face. The president’s expression showed his flustered heart.

  “Haa, this is a problem. I thought one or two days would be the end of it.”


  “It’s a world where abusing authority is a problem. There are even rumors that a big company was pressuring a small company.”


  “*ehem*.”


  The president coughed awkwardly. It was actually true that he was requested by Cymena, the company that Shieun belonged to, and instructed producer Kim DeokJoong to do so.

  “That White… whatever. Anyway, there are videos about them on the streets singing that song, right?”


  “Yes. There are a lot of them on Tune.”


  “Ah, sheesh….”


  The president had a headache. Those videos triggered the endless stream of bad comments on the viewer BBS.

  Moreover, looking at how producer Kim DeokJoong was saying it like this wasn’t his problem was adding oil to the fire.

  – Why do we have to listen to an OST on the streets and not from the drama?

  – Why chase out a completely fine band to the streets?

  However, the president had nothing to retort to that. He was the source of the problem.

  The fact that that band came to the streets immediately after the drama no longer aired the song influenced the people a lot. Although they sang a lot of other songs than ‘Heartache’, it was also the most attractive song to the public.

  “…Producer Kim. How do you suppose we solve this problem? Phew….”


  “…..”


  Producer Kim DeokJoong looked down, seemingly embarrassed.

  ‘I knew it’d turn out like this.’


  But there was a thick smile on his face.

  ***